But what he wanted in those days was that profound indifference of heart which… seized him with such purity that he had to start running. ~ Rilke


Impelled from where I once was
I am hurled heedlessly out,
spilling into this seething sphere.
By day I deliberate with strangers,
listen to musicians' serenades
and find, to my delight,
mosaics in shards of street glass
reflecting my shimmering state back to me
in the ways of the things around them.

By night I spy the moon's pale yolk in still water
and am tempted to wade in,
seeking Arthur in Avalon
or some sort of Phaecian peace
where the pain can't reach.
What ready power resides in human detail,
in a nose's willful downturn,
in a stubbornly pensive pout.
Particular inflections of perfection,
torment for the uninitiated.

But as yet I have been constrained
by the advice of prior lovers,
whistled against the prevailing winds
as I run my course:
Abandon yourself to the care of creation.
Wander through as if you knew your way.
Be satisfied such as you are...
a stand-in for eternity
on these rough and embracing nights.

The Luckiest

A retiring first baseman
once stepped his deteriorating body to a microphone
and equated his condition
with that of the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
In doing so, he gave voice to a possibility latent in anyone.

If a stadium is unavailable,
you may venture your claim to a bar full of locals,
at the supermarket checkout,
in the affinity of sex,
or alone to yourself,
as bliss rolls down your skin in beads of sweat.

III a.
The scattered sugar
on the table beckons me
to associate.

b.
The scattered sugar
on the table will remain
as long as it lasts.

c.
The scattered sugar
on the table does its work:
I am now transfixed.

V a.
An empty bottle
on the floor reminds me of
childhood games not played.

b.
An empty bottle
neck down in abundant trash.
Next drinks will be worse.

c.
An empty bottle
shatters all into pieces,
fashioned from the fall.

VI a.
Red ball on green grass
immobile, suddenly kicked:
kineticism!

b.
Red ball on green grass
becomes green and the grass, red.
Nature’s fond swip-swops.

c.
Red ball on green grass
sees rain, snow, wind, hail, heat, drought.
More than hardy men.

d.
Red ball on green grass
releases imprisoned air
slowly, leaking life.